Laboratory Equipments Axiva Sichem Biotech - Lab Filtration Products | Page 27

Western Blot in Clinical Medicine The confirmatory HIV test employs a Western blot to detect anti-HIV antibody in a human serum sample. Proteins from known HIV-infected cells are separated and blotted on a membrane then, the serum to be tested is applied in the primary antibody incubation step; free antibody is washed away, and a secondary anti-human antibody linked to an enzyme signal is added . The stained bands then indicate the proteins to which the patient’s serum contains antibody. A western blot is also used as the definitive test for Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, commonly referred to as ‘mad cow disease’) Some forms of Lyme disease testing employ Western Blotting.